Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Asheville / Western North Carolina

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Asheville / Western North Carolina? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Gamekeeper

4.9

4.9 (3477)

$50 and over

American

Boone

About the restaurant

You haven't fully experienced the Blowing Rock, NC region until you've dined at The Gamekeeper. It's a true gourmet restaurant with an engaging blend of upscale elegance and mountain charm.

Famous for an evolving menu that blends the traditional with the exotic, The Gamekeeper features a selection of perfectly prepared game plus a range of continental and American entrees.

Acclaimed chef and owner Ken Gordon brings tremendous warmth and skill to the table treating you more as friends than guests. You'll experience a meal to remember that includes fine wines, decadent desserts, and a generous serving of personal attention. You'll leave happy and impressed with a desire to return soon!

Top review

EdVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Second time at gamekeeper and has another delightful experience! Food is great / staff and customers are fabulous and friendly. Will be back again for sure !!!

Artisanal Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (1807)

$50 and over

American

Banner Elk

About the restaurant

Artisanal Restaurant is open seasonally from May-October end. Contemporary American Fine Dining in a rustic yet elegant environment. Innovative and progressive thinking in a farm to table approach, only working with the highest quality ingredients. This warm environment offers the best food and wine with excellent service. Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Private dining room adjacent to the wine cellar available for events. The only available menu is a pre-fix style, with 5-6 choices per course, $105/ guest plus a service fee. We do not offer a kids menu however kids prepared to order off our pre-fix menu are welcome. Our Dress Code is Business Casual. Collared shirts are required, jackets are preferred but not required for men. No shorts, distressed jeans, hoodies, hats, or sandals/flip flops. Please dress comfortably for the weather for outside seating. For our Allergy policy and menu choices, please go to artisanalnc.com

Top review

John

Dined 4 days ago

Always fantastic! We reserve every time we’re in Banner Elk

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Popular dish

Yellowfin Tuna Tartare

4.9

4.9 (1878)

$31 to $50

Asian

Asheville

About the restaurant

Welcome to Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse, where Japanese Soul Food meets American BBQ by James Beard Nominated Chef Michael Lewis. “Japanese Smokehouse” is defined as merging Japanese ingredients and flavors with American BBQ techniques, and everything in between.

Menu highlights include light and refreshing dishes such as Wagyu Tataki with house kimchee, yuzu kosho and savory soy or Tuna Takaki with fire roasted peppers + ponzu, to bolder flavors such as Smoked Pastrami Short Rib with toasted rye, fire roasted kimchi + yuzu pickles. We are currently open 7 days a week.

Please note, our dining room consists of booths, regular tables and high-tops. We will try our best to accommodate you at your prefer location, but sometimes it is not possible due to party size. Our outdoor tables can be requested but not guaranteed when booking on open table.

Top review

David

Dined 3 days ago

Great meal once again and great service from Mat and Jeremy at the bar

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Popular dish

Coconut Cake

Popular dish

Pork + Shitake Mushroom Gyoza

Popular dish

Japanese Sweet Potato

Luminosa

4.9

4.9 (534)

$30 and under

Italian

Asheville

About the restaurant

Where modern-Appalachian meets Italian-inspiration, Luminosa is bringing a hyperlocal lens to Italian cuisine, utilizing regional purveyors and local team member expertise to shape and curate the ever-evolving, seasonally driven offerings. Nestled within The Flat Iron Hotel, a historic boutique hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, Luminosa's carefully designed space radiates a welcoming tavern ambiance. Our culinary heart is a wood-burning oven, infusing a "touch of fire" into handmade pizzas, house-made pastas, and locally sourced vegetables. In homage to Asheville's renowned brewery scene, Luminosa's beverage program features local brews, including an exclusive collaboration, alongside a diverse selection of cocktails and wines.

Top review

VickiVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Haley was our server and she was really outstanding! The gnocchi and mortadella pizza was truly fantastic…..the local ingredients come through loudly. Such a gem in Asheville!

Canyon Kitchen

4.8

4.8 (1411)

$50 and over

American

Highlands / Sapphire

About the restaurant

Sometimes, the magic of sharing a table with friends over delicious food and wine is elevated by the setting Canyon Kitchen is that kind of place. We craft creative Appalachian cuisine using local produce and organic selections from our community gardens and nearby farms. Our multi-course, à la carte menu changes regularly sometimes daily and is complemented by an extensive wine list and seasonal cocktails. A $40 corkage fee applies to bottles up to 750ml.

We recommend arriving 20 minutes early to enjoy the beauty of our meadow. Reservations require a $25 per person credit card hold, charged only if canceled within 24 hours.

For your convenience, we offer the option to split your bill into up to three equal checks. A 20% service charge is automatically added to each check and shared among our front-line staff. We appreciate your support and welcome you to Canyon Kitchen in the heart of Lonesome Valley.

Top review

Heather

Dined on Jun 25, 2025

We went for the amazing view, truly the most amazing dinner view in North Carolina, but the food was actually amazing too!

The BEACON

4.8

4.8 (662)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Italian

Boone

About the restaurant

The Beacon is a labor of love from Tina Houston, owner of Reid’s Café & Catering Co., established here in the High Country since 1999. From our kitchen to our staff, we strive for innovation and discovery in all facets of our company. We love the intentional, the specific, and the well-cared-for. We work closely with our Blue Ridge farmers, producers, and NC fisherman to present deliberate and thoughtful food and beverage menus.

Our Bar highlights inspiring cocktails and an impressive biodynamic wine program. A dedication to offering natural wines adhering to strict traditional methods, free of pesticides, and minimal intervention. Live music every Tuesday and Thursday during dinner service provides a subtle and delightful ambience. Our semi-private section of our dining room hosts "family style" dining of up to 30 guests. Feel free to contact us for availability.

Join us every first friday of the month for Jazz Jam from 9:30 PM - Midnight, including late night food and drinks.

Top review

Laney

Dined 3 days ago

Delicious food, a little pricey but well worth the cost!

Claywood

4.7

4.7 (339)

$31 to $50

Farm-to-table

Hendersonville

About the restaurant

Claywood is a vibrant, locally-focused restaurant that celebrates the farm-to-table philosophy in every aspect of its culinary and cocktail creations. Nestled in the heart of Hendersonville, Claywood is driven by a commitment to fresh, quality ingredients sourced from local farmers and purveyors. Our menu is a dynamic blend of traditional and modern cooking styles, enriched by cultural influences from around the world, and always inspired by the changing seasons.

At Claywood, we are rooted in a philosophy that celebrates ingredient integrity, regional traditions, and experiential dining. Chef Tory leads our team with a focus on whole animal butchery, sustainable partnerships with local farms and foragers, and menus that shift with the mountain seasons—highlighting ramps, mushrooms, heirloom grains, and native herbs. Our goal is not just to serve food, but to tell a story with every dish. One that reflects our place, our people, and our purpose.

Top review

Grady

Dined 2 days ago

beef ribs were fantastic. very tasty bread. charcuterie tray was very good, but pricey for the quantity.

The Whitman

4.7

4.7 (196)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Asheville

About the restaurant

For entry into the Pop-up, please join our complimentary Access Membership & Rewards program prior to your arrival. As an Access Member you will receive exclusive offerings, benefits, experiences, and more. Please note your reservation through Open Table does not serve as your enrollment into the Access program. Join Now: https://www.balharbourshopspopup.com/access/.
The Whitman–an all-new restaurant concept by Bal Harbour Shops, designed exclusively for the Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-up. The Whitman name draws inspiration from The Whitman by The Sea– a luxury Miami Beach hotel owned by the Whitman family in the 1940s.
The Whitman brings the iconic dining experience of Bal Harbour Shops to life through its breezy indoor-outdoor space. Evoking a decadent lifestyle of leisure, the palm-framed courtyard retains the idyllic al fresco environment of the Shops. With a menu featuring Latin-inspired flavors and comforting classics, The Whitman will keep you coming back.

Top review

CherylVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Our server was phenomenal and the food was great! We had the cheeseburger, excellent!

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Experience

High Tea at the Bal Harbour Shops Pop Up

The Market Place Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (4126)

$31 to $50

American

Asheville

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Market Place, Asheville's culinary gem nestled in the heart of downtown! Led by Chef William Dissen, our restaurant celebrates the vibrant flavors of the region with a menu featuring locally sourced ingredients from within a 100-mile radius of Asheville. We're proud to have been named a semi-finalist for the prestigious James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant. Join us for dinner beginning at 5 pm where you can enjoy our delicious dishes alongside a local beer or a handmade cocktail.

Due to the unpredictable weather in the mountains, patio tables cannot be reserved.

Top review

Nancy

Dined 7 days ago

My sisters and I visited Asheville and included a family member for dinner. Delightful!

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Popular dish

Wild Mushroom Tagliatelle

Popular dish

Shrimp & Grits

Wildwood Still

4.6

4.6 (73)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Asheville

About the restaurant

A Rooftop Bar Experience. For serious whiskey enthusiasts, the whiskey-curious, and the whiskey-indifferent.

Introducing Wildwood Still, a rooftop bar experience in the heart of downtown Asheville atop the Moxy Asheville Hotel. We don’t just serve exceptionally good spirits. We’re always in good spirits, too. The down-to-earth humans behind our bar and barrels are genuinely happy to serve you — and they’re always up for going down the whiskey rabbit hole with you.

For parties of 7 or more, please email us at hello@wildwoodstill.com

Top review

Darrell

Dined 3 days ago

Fantastic meal and stellar service. Malachi was exceptional

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